The Practice of Humility
I can remember times in my life when I have been absolutely convinced of the accuracy of what I thought was true. Early in my career as a technician, I thought a particular piece of equipment worked in a certain way. I was convinced I was right. Some time later I discovered that I was wrong, completely wrong. I had been working on incomplete knowledge and even less understanding.
There is no greater breeding ground for suppositional beliefs than religion because it relies on faith, which can not be proved (intellectually). I have chatted with many Christians who are so adamant on their points of faith, that you would think God had written it on tablets of stone and given them to the person on a mountain.
I suspect that many people hold their beliefs about God is an iron fist because it would be too destabilizing to entertain the idea that God might be different from what they believe. Essentially, their faith is a house of cards – move any card and the whole thing collapses. For Biblical Literalists, this means that they have to hold the view that EVERY word in the Bible is literally true, because to disbelieve even one thing, would be the crack in the dam which allows the whole dam to break.
I wonder why we are so sure we understand God’s ways when we readily acknowledge that God is infinite and we cannot possibly understand all there is about God’s character, wisdom, or intentions. Why are we afraid of mystery?
A little humility with our beliefs would go a long way to showing the world that God is compassionate, loving and kind. Yet we insist on bluster, grandstanding and adamant claims in the defense of our beliefs. Being willing to say “I may be wrong, but this is what I believe now” without becoming defensive would calm almost every argument that has ever happened. Is it pride that stops us exercising humility, or lack of knowledge and wisdom?
As the years have passed, I have realised that my technical knowledge of many things is partial at best, and while I might know it works, I often have little idea of how it works and even less about what goes into its design. A similar level of awareness has come with my spiritual growth. I have become comfortable with mystery, and can live without the need to know everything about God. The Bible says that faith is a gift from God, it isn’t and never was a measure of my spirituality.
Faith should be lived out in practice
- In Christ Daily – Day 3 - 2 November 2025
- In Christ Daily – Day 2 - 2 November 2025
- In Christ Daily – Day 1 - 2 November 2025